Have an emergency kit, experts urge

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – As B.C. wildfires continue to rage across the province’s interior, forcing thousands from their homes, emergency preparedness experts are warning everyone to be ready in the event of a disaster.

Krasicki & Ward Emergency Preparedness owner Ann Ward estimates only 20 per cent of people and companies have an emergency kit in their home, office or vehicle.

“People will spend a bunch of money on lattes, but they won’t spend $20 on a little basic kit to survive for three days,” Ward says. “I say, please just have even a small kit.”

Ward says families can put together their own kits, which should always include a few basic necessities such as water, food, first aid, space blankets, face masks, light stick, garbage bags, money, toilet paper, waterproof matches and identification. She says anyone who takes medication should keep a week’s worth of pills in the kit, because many people forget to bring them if they have to leave quickly or are caught off guard.

“(People) keep saying to me is ‘it’s just a scare tactic,’ but the fires, if you’re caught on the highway, or a flood, never mind an earthquake, be prepared. It doesn’t cost much to have a kit with everything in it,” Ward says. “Just make a list. You don’t have to get it all at once.”

She says from there, people can expand on their kits, including everything from appropriate clothing and footwear, to tents, whistles, rope, can openers, radios and even hard hats.

Kit contents should be checked regularly to make sure nothing inside has expired, or to add new items to the pack.

Pet owners should also create a kit for their animal friends, and may consider putting pet rescue stickers on a window or door for first responders.

PreparedBC also offers suggestions of what people can pack.